Firearm trigger mechanism

ABSTRACT

A trigger mechanism that can be used in AR-pattern firearms has a hammer, a trigger member, a disconnector, a locking member, and a “three position” safety selector having safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions. In the standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer such that the disconnector hook catches the hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release the trigger member to free the hammer from the disconnector to permit the hammer and trigger member to pivot to the set positions so that the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm. In the forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer causing the trigger member to be forced to the set position, the safety selector preventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing the trigger member. The locking member is pivotable between a first position at which the locking member mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the released position and a second position at which the locking member does not mechanically block the trigger member allowing the trigger member to be moved to the released position. The locking member is spring biased toward the first position and moved against the spring bias to the second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of US Provisional Pat.Application No. 63/297,884 filed Jan. 10, 2022, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a firearm trigger mechanism,and more particularly to a semiautomatic trigger that is selectivelymechanically reset by movement of the bolt carrier.

BACKGROUND

In a standard semiautomatic firearm, actuation of the trigger releases asear, allowing a hammer or striker to fire a chambered ammunitioncartridge. Part of the ammunition’s propellant force is used to cyclethe action, extracting and ejecting a spent cartridge and replacing itwith a loaded cartridge. The cycle includes longitudinal reciprocationof a bolt and/or carrier, which also resets the hammer or striker.

A standard semiautomatic trigger mechanism includes a disconnector,which holds the hammer or striker in a cocked position until the triggermember is reset to engage the sear. This allows the firearm to be firedonly a single time when the trigger is pulled and held, because the useris not typically able to release the trigger rapidly enough so that thesear engages before the bolt or bolt carrier returns to its in-batteryposition. The disconnector prevents the firearm from either firingmultiple rounds on a single pull of the trigger, or from allowing thehammer or striker to simply “follow” the bolt as it returns to batterywithout firing a second round, but leaving the hammer or strikeruncocked.

For various reasons, shooters desire to increase the rate ofsemiautomatic fire. Sometimes this is simply for entertainment and thefeeling of shooting a machine gun. In the past, users have been known toemploy “bump firing” to achieve rapid semiautomatic fire. Bump firinguses the recoil of the semiautomatic firearm to fire shots in rapidsuccession. The process involves bracing the rifle with the non-triggerhand, loosening the grip of the trigger hand (but leaving the triggerfinger in its normal position in front of the trigger), and pushing therifle forward in order to apply pressure on the trigger from the fingerwhile keeping the trigger finger stationary. When fired with the triggerfinger held stationary, the firearm will recoil to the rear and allowthe trigger to reset as it normally does. When the non-trigger handpulls the firearm away from the body and back forward toward theoriginal position, it causes the trigger to be pressed against thestationary finger again, firing another round as the trigger is pushedback.

Devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire are shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 9,568,264; 9,816,772; and 9,939,221, issued to Thomas AllenGraves. The devices shown in these patents forcefully reset the triggerwith rigid mechanical contact between the trigger member and the bolt asthe action cycles. To adapt this invention to an AR-pattern firearm, forexample, would require not only a modified fire control mechanism, butalso a modified bolt carrier.

Other devices for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire are shown inU.S. Pat. Nos. 10,514,223 and 11,346,627, which are hereby incorporatedby reference herein as if fully set forth in their entirety. In thesedevices the hammer forces the trigger to the set position, and a lockingbar prevents early hammer release.

Another device for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fire is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 7,398,723, issued to Brian A. Blakley, and is herebyincorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth in its entirety.The device shown in this patent has a pivoting cam which is contacted bythe rearwardly traveling bolt carrier, pivoting the cam rearwardly suchthat the bottom surface of the cam presses downward on thetrigger-extension, forcing the rear of the trigger down, and therebymoving forward the surface of the trigger that an operator’s fingerengages. Another device for increasing the rate of semiautomatic fireemploying a pivoting cam arrangement is shown in US Provisional Pat.Application No. 63/374,941 filed Sep. 8, 2022, also invented by Brian A.Blakley, and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein as iffully set forth in its entirety. This pivoting cam arrangementincorporates a three-position safety selector and associated structureto provide safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semiautomaticmodes.

Further improvement in forced reset triggers is desired.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a semiautomatic trigger mechanism forincreasing rate of fire that can be retrofitted into popular existingfirearm platforms. In particular, this invention provides a triggermechanism that can be used in AR-pattern firearms with an otherwisestandard M16-pattern bolt carrier assembly. The present invention isparticularly adaptable for construction as a “drop-in” replacementtrigger module that only requires insertion of two assembly pins and thesafety selector. Advantageously, the present invention provides a “threeposition” trigger mechanism having safe, standard semi-automatic, andforced reset semi-automatic positions.

In one aspect, a firearm trigger mechanism comprises a hammer having asear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and adapted to bemounted in a fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver to pivot on atransverse hammer pivot axis between set and released positions, thehammer adapted to be pivoted rearward by rearward movement of a boltcarrier, a trigger member having a sear and adapted to be mounted in thefire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse trigger memberpivot axis between set and released positions, the trigger member havinga surface positioned to be contacted by the hammer during rearwardpivoting of the hammer to cause the trigger member to be forced to theset position, wherein the sear and sear catch are in engagement in theset positions of the hammer and trigger member and are out of engagementin the released positions of the hammer and trigger member, adisconnector having a hook for engaging the hammer and adapted to bemounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on the transversetrigger member pivot axis, a locking member adapted to be mounted in thefire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse locking memberpivot axis, the locking member being pivotable between a first positionat which the locking member mechanically blocks the trigger member frommoving to the released position and a second position at which thelocking member does not mechanically block the trigger member allowingthe trigger member to be moved to the released position, the lockingmember spring biased toward the first position and adapted to be movedagainst the spring bias to the second position by contact from the boltcarrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrierreaches a substantially in-battery position, and a safety selectoradapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivotbetween safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automaticpositions. In the standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement ofthe bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer such that thedisconnector hook catches the hammer hook, at which time a user mustmanually release the trigger member to free the hammer from thedisconnector to permit the hammer and trigger member to pivot to the setpositions so that the user can pull the trigger member to fire thefirearm. In the forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movementof the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer causing thetrigger member to be forced to the set position, the safety selectorpreventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, andthereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-batteryposition the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearmwithout manually releasing the trigger member.

The safety selector can have a protuberance thereon which, when thesafety selector is in the forced reset semi-automatic position, contactsthe disconnector preventing the disconnector hook from catching thehammer hook. The trigger mechanism can further include a spring whichbiases the trigger member towards the set position.

In another aspect, a firearm trigger mechanism comprises a housinghaving a first pair of transversely aligned openings for receiving ahammer pin and a second pair of transversely aligned openings forreceiving a trigger member pin, a hammer having a sear catch and a hookfor engaging a disconnector and mounted in the housing to pivot on thehammer pin between set and released positions, the hammer adapted to bepivoted rearward by rearward movement of a bolt carrier, a triggermember having a sear and mounted in the housing to pivot on the triggermember pin between set and released positions, the trigger member havinga surface positioned to be contacted by the hammer during rearwardpivoting of the hammer to cause the trigger member to be forced to theset position, wherein the sear and sear catch are in engagement in theset positions of the hammer and trigger member and are out of engagementin the released positions of the hammer and trigger member, adisconnector having a hook for engaging the hammer and mounted in thehousing to pivot on the trigger member pin, a locking member mounted inthe housing to pivot on a transverse locking member pin, the lockingmember being pivotable between a first position at which the lockingmember mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to thereleased position and a second position at which the locking member doesnot mechanically block the trigger member allowing the trigger member tobe moved to the released position, the locking member spring biasedtoward the first position and adapted to be moved against the springbias to the second position by contact from the bolt carrier duringforward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches asubstantially in-battery position, and a safety selector adapted to bemounted in a fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver to pivotbetween safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automaticpositions. In the standard semiautomatic position, rearward movement ofthe bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer such that thedisconnector hook catches the hammer hook, at which time a user mustmanually release the trigger member to free the hammer from thedisconnector to permit the hammer and trigger member to pivot to the setpositions so that the user can pull the trigger member to fire thefirearm. In the forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movementof the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of the hammer causing thetrigger member to be forced to the set position, the safety selectorpreventing the disconnector hook from catching the hammer hook, andthereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-batteryposition the user can pull the trigger member to fire the firearmwithout manually releasing the trigger member.

The safety selector can have a protuberance thereon which, when thesafety selector is in the forced reset semi-automatic position, contactsthe disconnector preventing the disconnector hook from catching thehammer hook. The transversely aligned pairs of openings in the housingfor receiving the hammer and trigger member pins can be adapted to bealigned with assembly pin openings in the fire control mechanism pocket.The trigger mechanism can further include a spring which biases thetrigger member towards the set position. The spring can be a compressionspring positioned between a forward end of the trigger member and afloor of the housing.

In another aspect, a firearm comprises a receiver having a fire controlmechanism pocket therein, a reciprocating bolt carrier, a hammer havinga sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and mounted in thefire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse hammer pivot axisbetween set and released positions, the hammer pivoted rearward byrearward movement of the bolt carrier, a trigger member having a searand mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on atransverse trigger member pivot axis between set and released positions,the trigger member having a surface positioned to be contacted by thehammer during rearward pivoting of the hammer to cause the triggermember to be forced to the set position, wherein the sear and sear catchare in engagement in the set positions of the hammer and trigger memberand are out of engagement in the released positions of the hammer andtrigger member, a disconnector having a hook for engaging the hammer andmounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on the transversetrigger member pivot axis, a locking member mounted in the fire controlmechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse locking member pivot axis, thelocking member being pivotable between a first position at which thelocking member mechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to thereleased position and a second position at which the locking member doesnot mechanically block the trigger member allowing the trigger member tobe moved to the released position, the locking member spring biasedtoward the first position and moved against the spring bias to thesecond position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movementof the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantiallyin-battery position, and a safety selector adapted mounted in the firecontrol mechanism pocket to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic,and forced reset semi-automatic positions. In the standardsemi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causesrearward pivoting of the hammer such that the disconnector hook catchesthe hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release the triggermember to free the hammer from the disconnector to permit the hammer andtrigger member to pivot to the set positions so that the user can pullthe trigger member to fire the firearm. In the forced resetsemiautomatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causesrearward pivoting of the hammer causing the trigger member to be forcedto the set position, the safety selector preventing the disconnectorhook from catching the hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrierreaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull thetrigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing thetrigger member.

The firearm can further comprise a housing having a first pair oftransversely aligned openings with a hammer pin therethrough and asecond pair of transversely aligned openings with a trigger member pintherethrough, the hammer mounted on the hammer pin, the trigger memberand disconnector mounted on the trigger member pin. The firearm canfurther comprise the receiver having a first pair of transverselyaligned assembly pin openings and a second pair of transversely alignedassembly pin openings, the housing first pair of openings coaxial withthe receiver first pair of openings and the housing second pair ofopenings coaxial with the receiver second pair of openings, a firstassembly pin passing through the receiver first pair of openings andthrough the housing first pair of openings, and a second assembly pinpassing through the receiver second pair of openings and through thehousing second pair of openings. The firearm can further include aspring which biases the trigger member towards the set position. Thespring can be a compression spring positioned between a forward end ofthe trigger member and a floor of the housing.

In another aspect, a firearm trigger mechanism comprises a hammer havinga sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and adapted to bemounted in a fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver to pivot on atransverse hammer pivot axis between set and released positions, thehammer adapted to be pivoted rearward by rearward movement of a boltcarrier, a trigger member having a sear and adapted to be mounted in thefire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse trigger memberpivot axis between set and released positions, the trigger member havinga surface positioned to be contacted by a surface of the hammer duringrearward pivoting of the hammer to cause the trigger member to be forcedto the set position, wherein the sear and sear catch are in engagementin the set positions of the hammer and trigger member and are out ofengagement in the released positions of the hammer and trigger member, adisconnector having a hook for engaging the hammer and adapted to bemounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on the transversetrigger member pivot axis, a locking member adapted to be movablymounted in the fire control mechanism pocket, the locking member beingmovable between a first position at which the locking membermechanically blocks the trigger member from moving to the releasedposition and a second position at which the locking member does notmechanically block the trigger member allowing the trigger member to bemoved to the released position, the locking member spring biased towardthe first position and adapted to be moved against the spring bias tothe second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forwardmovement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantiallyin-battery position, and a safety selector adapted to be mounted in thefire control mechanism pocket to pivot between safe, standardsemi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions. In thestandard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carriercauses rearward pivoting of the hammer such that the disconnector hookcatches the hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release thetrigger member to free the hammer from the disconnector to permit thehammer and trigger member to pivot to the set positions so that the usercan pull the trigger member to fire the firearm. In the forced resetsemi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causesrearward pivoting of the hammer causing the trigger member to be forcedto the set position, the safety selector preventing the disconnectorhook from catching the hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrierreaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull thetrigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing thetrigger member.

Other aspects, features, benefits, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent to a person of skill in the art from thedetailed description of various embodiments with reference to theaccompanying drawing figures, all of which comprise part of thedisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout thevarious drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front right perspective view of a drop-in trigger modulefor an AR-pattern firearm according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top rear right perspective view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a top rear right exploded perspective view thereof.

FIG. 4A is a top rear right cross-sectional view thereof with the safetyselector in the safe position and with the hammer and trigger member intheir set positions.

FIG. 4B is a bottom rear right cross-sectional view thereof with thesafety selector in the safe position and with the hammer and triggermember in their set positions.

FIG. 5A is a top rear right cross-sectional view thereof with the safetyselector in the standard semi-automatic position and with the hammer andtrigger member in their set positions.

FIG. 5B is a bottom rear right cross-sectional view thereof with thesafety selector in the standard semi-automatic position and with thehammer and trigger member in their set positions.

FIG. 6A is a top rear right cross-sectional view thereof with the safetyselector in the forced reset semi-automatic position and with the hammerand trigger member in their set positions.

FIG. 6B is a bottom rear right cross-sectional view thereof with thesafety selector in the forced reset semi-automatic position and with thehammer and trigger member in their set positions.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the trigger module installed ina typical AR15-pattern lower receiver, with the hammer and triggermember in their set positions and with the bolt carrier in an in-batteryposition, and with the safety selector in the safe position.

FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the safety selector in thestandard semi-automatic position.

FIG. 8B is a view similar to FIG. 8A but after the trigger has beenpulled to drop the hammer.

FIG. 8C is a view similar to FIG. 8B but with the bolt carrier cyclingto the rear to pivot the hammer.

FIG. 8D is a view similar to FIG. 8C but with the bolt carrier havingreturned to battery and the disconnector having caught the hammer.

FIG. 9A is a view similar to FIG. 7 but with the safety selector in theforced reset semi-automatic position.

FIG. 9B is a view similar to FIG. 9A but after the trigger has beenpulled to drop the hammer.

FIG. 9C is a view similar to FIG. 9B but with the bolt carrier cyclingto the rear to pivot the hammer.

FIG. 9D is a view similar to FIG. 9C but with the bolt carrier havingreturned to battery and the hammer and trigger having returned to theirset positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawing figures, this section describes particularembodiments and their detailed construction and operation. Throughoutthe specification, reference to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or“some embodiments” means that a particular described feature, structure,or characteristic may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus,appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” or“in some embodiments” in various places throughout this specificationare not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore,the described features, structures, and characteristics may be combinedin any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In view of thedisclosure herein, those skilled in the art will recognize that thevarious embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specificdetails or with other methods, components, materials, or the like. Insome instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or not described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theembodiments. “Forward” will indicate the direction of the muzzle and thedirection in which projectiles are fired, while “rearward” will indicatethe opposite direction. “Lateral” or “transverse” indicates aside-to-side direction generally perpendicular to the axis of thebarrel. Although firearms may be used in any orientation, “left” and“right” will generally indicate the sides according to the user’sorientation, “top” or “up” will be the upward direction when the firearmis gripped in the ordinary manner.

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6B, there is illustrated a “drop-in” triggermodule 10 adapted for use in an AR-pattern firearm according to a firstembodiment of the present invention. As used herein, “AR-pattern”firearm includes the semiautomatic versions of the AR10 and AR15firearms and variants thereof of any caliber, including pistol calibercarbines or pistols using a blow-back bolt. While select fire (fullyautomatic capable) versions of this platform, such as the M16 and M4,are also AR-pattern firearms, this invention only relates tosemiautomatic firearm actions. The concepts of this invention may beadaptable to other popular semiautomatic firearm platforms, such as theRuger 10/22™, AK-pattern firearms, and HK-pattern firearms.

The module 10 includes a frame or housing 12 sized and shaped to fitwithin the internal fire control pocket of an AR-pattern lower receiver14. Lower receiver parts not important to the present invention arewell-known in the art and are omitted from the figures for clarity. Thehousing 12 includes forward left and right sidewalls 16, 18 which extendsubstantially vertically and parallel to one another in a laterallyspaced-apart relationship. The sidewalls 16, 18 may be interconnected bya floor 20. Shorter, more narrowly spaced apart and substantiallyvertical and parallel rear sidewalls 21, 22 extend rearward from forwardsidewalls 16, 18 and are interconnected by a rear end wall 23. Thesidewalls 16, 18 include first and second pairs of aligned openings 24,26 for receiving hollow transverse pins 30, 32 upon which a hammer 36and trigger member 38 pivot. The openings 24, 26 are located coaxiallywith openings 42, 44 in the lower receiver 14. Standard AR-patternhammer and trigger pins 46, 48 pass through the openings 42, 44 in thelower receiver 14 and through the hollow transverse pins 30, 32 toassemble the housing 12 into the lower receiver 14. Thus, the pins 30,32 retain the hammer 36 and trigger member 38 in the housing 12 inmodular fashion, whereas the pins 46, 48 retain the trigger module 10 inthe lower receiver 14.

The hammer 36 has a hammer head 50, a sear catch 52, a hammer hook 53,and a concave contact surface 51. The hammer 36 is spring biased towardsa forward position by a standard AR-pattern hammer torsion spring (notshown).

The trigger member 38 has a trigger blade 54 that extends downwardly.The trigger blade 54 is the part of the trigger member 38 contacted by auser’s finger to actuate the trigger mechanism. The trigger blade 54 maybe curved (as shown) or straight, as desired. The trigger member 38 hasa sear 56. When the sear 56 and the sear catch 52 are engaged, thehammer 36 and trigger member 38 are in their set positions. When thesear 56 and sear catch 52 are not engaged, the hammer 36 and triggermember 38 are in their released positions. The trigger member 38 has aconvex contact surface 58 that interacts with concave surface 51 onhammer 36 in a manner described below. The trigger member 38 also has acontact surface 69. The trigger member 38 is spring biased by acompression spring 59 positioned between a forward end of the triggermember 38 and the floor 20 of the housing 12 so that the trigger blade54 is spring biased towards a forward position.

A disconnector 60 is pivoted on the hollow transverse pin 32 upon whichthe trigger member 38 pivots. The disconnector 60 has a disconnectorhook 64 and a tail 66. The tail 66 of the disconnector 60 is springbiased upwardly away from a tail 68 of the trigger member 38 by acompression spring 67.

A locking or blocking member 72 is movably mounted to the housing 12.For example, the locking/blocking member 72 can be pivoted on alocking/blocking member pin or screw 74 that is installed in alignedopenings 76 in the sidewalls 21, 22 of the housing 12. The lockingmember 72 has a first contact surface 78 that interacts with anengagement surface 94 in a rear portion 96 of a bolt carrier body 98 ofa bolt carrier assembly 92, in a manner to be described below. Thelocking member 72 has a second contact surface 80 that interacts withsurface 69 of trigger member 38 in a manner to be described below. Thelocking member 72 is spring biased by a torsion spring 82 acting betweena pin 84 in the sidewalls 21, 22 and a lower portion of the lockingmember 72 such that surface 78 is biased rearward and surface 80 isbiased forward. Alternatively, the locking/blocking member 72 can beslidably mounted to the housing 12 and spring biased forward by acompression spring.

An upper receiver 90 houses a bolt carrier assembly 92. As is well-knownin the art, the bolt carrier assembly 92 (or blow-back bolt) slidablyreciprocates in the upper receiver 90 and engages the breach of a barrelor barrel extension. As used herein, “bolt carrier” and “bolt carrierassembly” may be used interchangeably and include a blow-back type boltused in pistol caliber carbine configurations of the AR-platform. Thebolt carrier assembly 92 used with the embodiments of this invention canhave either a standard mil-spec M16-pattern bolt carrier, a standardAR15-pattern bolt carrier, or some variation of the two, depending onthe design of the locking member 72, and whether operated by a gasdirect impingement system or a gas piston system. The bolt carrierassembly 92 has an engagement surface 94 in a rear portion 96 of thebolt carrier body 98. As in an ordinary AR15-pattern configuration,during rearward travel of the bolt carrier assembly 92 a lower surface102 in a forward portion 104 of the bolt carrier body 98 contacts theface of the hammer head 50 causing the hammer 36 to pivot rearward.Rearward travel of bolt carrier assembly 92 also moves engagementsurface 94 rearward and away from surface 78 of locking member 72. Theaction of spring 82 causes locking member 72 to pivot in a firstdirection from a first position wherein surface 80 of locking member 72does not impede upward movement of surface 69 of trigger member 38 to asecond position wherein surface 80 of locking member 72 does impedeupward movement of surface 69 of trigger member 38 thus preventing thetrigger blade 54 from being pulled by the user. During forward travel ofthe bolt carrier assembly 92 the engagement surface 94 of the boltcarrier body 98 contacts the surface 78 of the locking member 72 topivot the locking member 72 in a second opposite direction from thesecond position to the first position.

A three position safety selector 110 has safe, standard semi-automatic,and forced reset semi-automatic positions. When in the safe position(safety selector indicator 111 pointing forward), a wide semi-circularportion 112 of the safety selector 110 prevents the trigger blade 54from being pulled (FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 7 ). When in the standardsemi-automatic position (safety selector indicator 111 pointing upward),a flat portion 114 of the safety selector 110 permits the trigger blade54 to be pulled. The disconnector 60 can pivot with the trigger member38 and the disconnector hook 64 can catch the hammer hook 53 duringrearward pivoting travel of the hammer head 50. (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Whenin the forced reset semi-automatic position (safety selector indicator111 pointing rearward), a narrow semi-circular portion 116 permits thetrigger blade 54 to be pulled but prevents the disconnector 60 frompivoting with the trigger member 38 thus preventing the disconnectorhook 64 from catching the hammer hook 53 during rearward pivoting travelof the hammer head 50. (FIGS. 6A and 6B). In other words, in the forcedreset semi-automatic position, the disconnector 60 is “disabled” in thatthe disconnector hook 64 is unable to catch the hammer hook 53 duringcycling of the bolt carrier assembly 92.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8D, with the safety selector 110 set in thestandard semi-automatic position, rearward finger pressure on thetrigger blade 54 causes the trigger member 38 to rotate clockwise.Rotation of the trigger member 38 causes the sear 56 to disengage fromthe sear catch 52 of the hammer 36. This allows the hammer 36 to drop byspring force onto the firing pin 99 of the bolt carrier assembly 92,discharging an ammunition cartridge (not shown), and causing the actionto cycle by moving the bolt carrier assembly 92 rearward. Rearwardtravel of the bolt carrier assembly 92 frees the locking member 72 topivot such that surface 80 is moved into a blocking position. Rearwardtravel of the bolt carrier assembly 92 also causes the lower surface 102to contact the face of the hammer head 50 and pivot the hammer 36counter-clockwise. During pivoting travel of the hammer 36 surface 51contacts surface 58 of trigger member 38 forcing trigger member 38 topivot counter-clockwise. Also during pivoting travel of the hammer 36the disconnector hook 64 catches the hammer hook 53. Forward travel ofthe bolt carrier assembly 92 returning to battery causes the surface 94to contact the surface 78 of the locking member 72 to pivot the lockingmember 72 clockwise moving surface 80 out of the blocking position. Atthis point rearward finger pressure on the trigger blade 54 must bereleased to allow the sear 56 to engage the sear catch 52, returning thehammer 36 and trigger member 38 to their set positions. Thereafter theuser can reapply rearward finger pressure on the trigger blade 54 tofire another round.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9D, with the safety selector 110 set in theforced reset semi-automatic position, rearward finger pressure on thetrigger blade 54 causes the trigger member 38 to rotate clockwise. Thenarrow semi-circular portion 116 of the safety selector 110 prevents thedisconnector 60 from rotating with the trigger member 38, thus“disabling” the disconnector 60, preventing the disconnector hook 64from catching the hammer hook 53. Rotation of the trigger member 38causes the sear 56 to disengage from the sear catch 52 of the hammer 36.This allows the hammer 36 to drop by spring force onto the firing pin 99of the bolt carrier assembly 92, discharging an ammunition cartridge,and causing the action to cycle by moving the bolt carrier assembly 92rearward. Rearward travel of the bolt carrier assembly 92 frees thelocking member 72 to pivot such that surface 80 is moved into a blockingposition. Rearward travel of the bolt carrier assembly 92 also causesthe lower surface 102 to contact the face of the hammer head 50 andpivot the hammer 36 counter-clockwise. During pivoting travel of thehammer 36 surface 51 contacts surface 58 of trigger member 38 forcingtrigger member 38 to pivot counter-clockwise. The bolt carrier assembly92 thereby forces the hammer 36 and trigger member 38 to their setpositions wherein the sear 56 engages the sear catch 52. Forward travelof the bolt carrier assembly 92 returning to battery causes the surface94 to contact the surface 78 of the locking member 72 to pivot thelocking member 72 clockwise. At this point the user can reapply rearwardfinger pressure on the trigger blade 54 to fire another round, withoutfirst manually releasing rear finger pressure on the trigger blade 54.

Thus, as the bolt carrier assembly 92 returns forward, the triggermember 38 is held in its set position by the locking member 72. Thetrigger member 38 cannot be pulled to release the sear/sear catchengagement, thus precluding early hammer release or “hammer follow”against the bolt carrier assembly 92 and firing pin 99 as the boltcarrier assembly 92 is returning to battery. When the bolt carrierassembly 92 has reached (or nearly reached) its closed, in-batteryposition, the engagement surface 94 contacts and forwardly displaces thecontact surface 78 of the locking member 72, disengaging the contactsurface 80 of the locking member 72 from the contact surface 69 of thetrigger member 38, allowing the trigger blade 54 to be pulled. Again,this prevents early hammer release and contact of the hammer against thefiring pin before the bolt is completely locked and in-battery.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedin detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variationsthereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scopeof the invention. Therefore, the foregoing is intended only to beillustrative of the principles of the invention. The invention residesin each individual feature described herein, alone, and in any and allcombinations and subcombinations of any and all of those features.Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur tothose skilled in the art, it is not intended to limit the invention tothe exact construction and operation shown and described. Accordingly,all suitable modifications and equivalents may be included andconsidered to fall within the scope of the invention, defined by thefollowing claim or claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A firearm trigger mechanism comprising: a hammer having a sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and adapted to be mounted in a fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver to pivot on a transverse hammer pivot axis between set and released positions, said hammer adapted to be pivoted rearward by rearward movement of a bolt carrier, a trigger member having a sear and adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse trigger member pivot axis between set and released positions, said trigger member having a surface positioned to be contacted by a surface of said hammer during rearward pivoting of said hammer to cause said trigger member to be forced to said set position, wherein said sear and sear catch are in engagement in said set positions of said hammer and trigger member and are out of engagement in said released positions of said hammer and trigger member, a disconnector having a hook for engaging said hammer and adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on said transverse trigger member pivot axis, a locking member adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse locking member pivot axis, said locking member being pivotable between a first position at which said locking member mechanically blocks said trigger member from moving to said released position and a second position at which said locking member does not mechanically block said trigger member allowing said trigger member to be moved to said released position, said locking member spring biased toward said first position and adapted to be moved against said spring bias to said second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position, and a safety selector adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions, whereupon in said standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer such that said disconnector hook catches said hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release said trigger member to free said hammer from said disconnector to permit said hammer and trigger member to pivot to said set positions so that the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm, and whereupon in said forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer causing said trigger member to be forced to said set position, said safety selector preventing said disconnector hook from catching said hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing said trigger member.
 2. The trigger mechanism of claim 1, wherein said safety selector has a protuberance thereon which, when said safety selector is in said forced reset semi-automatic position, contacts said disconnector preventing said disconnector hook from catching said hammer hook.
 3. The trigger mechanism of claim 1 further including a spring which biases said trigger member towards said set position.
 4. A firearm trigger mechanism comprising: a housing having a first pair of transversely aligned openings for receiving a hammer pin and a second pair of transversely aligned openings for receiving a trigger member pin, a hammer having a sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and mounted in said housing to pivot on said hammer pin between set and released positions, said hammer adapted to be pivoted rearward by rearward movement of a bolt carrier, a trigger member having a sear and mounted in said housing to pivot on said trigger member pin between set and released positions, said trigger member having a surface positioned to be contacted by a surface of said hammer during rearward pivoting of said hammer to cause said trigger member to be forced to said set position, wherein said sear and sear catch are in engagement in said set positions of said hammer and trigger member and are out of engagement in said released positions of said hammer and trigger member, a disconnector having a hook for engaging said hammer and mounted in said housing to pivot on said trigger member pin, a locking member mounted in said housing to pivot on a transverse locking member pin, said locking member being pivotable between a first position at which said locking member mechanically blocks said trigger member from moving to said released position and a second position at which said locking member does not mechanically block said trigger member allowing said trigger member to be moved to said released position, said locking member spring biased toward said first position and adapted to be moved against said spring bias to said second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position, and a safety selector adapted to be mounted in a fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions, whereupon in said standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer such that said disconnector hook catches said hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release said trigger member to free said hammer from said disconnector to permit said hammer and trigger member to pivot to said set positions so that the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm, and whereupon in said forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer causing said trigger member to be forced to said set position, said safety selector preventing said disconnector hook from catching said hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing said trigger member.
 5. The trigger mechanism of claim 4, wherein said safety selector has a protuberance thereon which, when said safety selector is in said forced reset semi-automatic position, contacts said disconnector preventing said disconnector hook from catching said hammer hook.
 6. The trigger mechanism of claim 4, wherein said first and second pairs of openings in said housing are adapted to be aligned with first and second pairs of transversely aligned assembly pin openings in the fire control mechanism pocket.
 7. The trigger mechanism of claim 4 further including a spring which biases said trigger member towards said set position.
 8. The trigger mechanism of claim 7 wherein said spring is a compression spring positioned between a forward end of said trigger member and a floor of said housing.
 9. A firearm comprising: a receiver having a fire control mechanism pocket therein, a reciprocating bolt carrier, a hammer having a sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and mounted in said fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse hammer pivot axis between set and released positions, said hammer pivoted rearward by rearward movement of said bolt carrier, a trigger member having a sear and mounted in said fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse trigger member pivot axis between set and released positions, said trigger member having a surface positioned to be contacted by a surface of said hammer during rearward pivoting of said hammer to cause said trigger member to be forced to said set position, wherein said sear and sear catch are in engagement in said set positions of said hammer and trigger member and are out of engagement in said released positions of said hammer and trigger member, a disconnector having a hook for engaging said hammer and mounted in said fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on said transverse trigger member pivot axis, a locking member mounted in said fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse locking member pivot axis, said locking member being pivotable between a first position at which said locking member mechanically blocks said trigger member from moving to said released position and a second position at which said locking member does not mechanically block said trigger member allowing said trigger member to be moved to said released position, said locking member spring biased toward said first position and moved against said spring bias to said second position by contact from said bolt carrier during forward movement of said bolt carrier as said bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position, and a safety selector adapted mounted in said fire control mechanism pocket to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions, whereupon in said standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of said bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer such that said disconnector hook catches said hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release said trigger member to free said hammer from said disconnector to permit said hammer and trigger member to pivot to said set positions so that the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm, and whereupon in said forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of said bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer causing said trigger member to be forced to said set position, said safety selector preventing said disconnector hook from catching said hammer hook, and thereafter when said bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing said trigger member.
 10. The firearm of claim 9 further comprising: a housing having a first pair of transversely aligned openings with a hammer pin therethrough and a second pair of transversely aligned openings with a trigger member pin therethrough, said hammer mounted on said hammer pin, said trigger member and disconnector mounted on said trigger member pin.
 11. The firearm of claim 10 further comprising: said receiver having a first pair of transversely aligned assembly pin openings and a second pair of transversely aligned assembly pin openings, said housing first pair of openings coaxial with said receiver first pair of openings and said housing second pair of openings coaxial with said receiver second pair of openings, a first assembly pin passing through said receiver first pair of openings and through said housing first pair of openings, and a second assembly pin passing through said receiver second pair of openings and through said housing second pair of openings.
 12. The firearm of claim 10 further including a spring which biases said trigger member towards said set position.
 13. The firearm of claim 12 wherein said spring is a compression spring positioned between a forward end of said trigger member and a floor of said housing.
 14. A firearm trigger mechanism comprising: a hammer having a sear catch and a hook for engaging a disconnector and adapted to be mounted in a fire control mechanism pocket of a receiver to pivot on a transverse hammer pivot axis between set and released positions, said hammer adapted to be pivoted rearward by rearward movement of a bolt carrier, a trigger member having a sear and adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on a transverse trigger member pivot axis between set and released positions, said trigger member having a surface positioned to be contacted by a surface of said hammer during rearward pivoting of said hammer to cause said trigger member to be forced to said set position, wherein said sear and sear catch are in engagement in said set positions of said hammer and trigger member and are out of engagement in said released positions of said hammer and trigger member, a disconnector having a hook for engaging said hammer and adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot on said transverse trigger member pivot axis, a locking member adapted to be movably mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket, said locking member being movable between a first position at which said locking member mechanically blocks said trigger member from moving to said released position and a second position at which said locking member does not mechanically block said trigger member allowing said trigger member to be moved to said released position, said locking member spring biased toward said first position and adapted to be moved against said spring bias to said second position by contact from the bolt carrier during forward movement of the bolt carrier as the bolt carrier reaches a substantially in-battery position, and a safety selector adapted to be mounted in the fire control mechanism pocket to pivot between safe, standard semi-automatic, and forced reset semi-automatic positions, whereupon in said standard semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer such that said disconnector hook catches said hammer hook, at which time a user must manually release said trigger member to free said hammer from said disconnector to permit said hammer and trigger member to pivot to said set positions so that the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm, and whereupon in said forced reset semi-automatic position, rearward movement of the bolt carrier causes rearward pivoting of said hammer causing said trigger member to be forced to said set position, said safety selector preventing said disconnector hook from catching said hammer hook, and thereafter when the bolt carrier reaches the substantially in-battery position the user can pull said trigger member to fire the firearm without manually releasing said trigger member. 